"We are the only country in history that ever deliberately changed its ethnic makeup, and history has few examples of 'diversity' creating a stable society." - Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Pupils stone teachers' cars in South Africa over failing grades

Pupils at Malaudzi High School in Blood River near Polokwane damaged four cars belonging to teachers at nearby Makgofe High School while trying to force others to join in a protest, said Limpopo police on Wednesday.

The protesters had been boycotting classes since Monday after 11 pupils, who had passed to Grade 12, were told on returning to school that they had failed because their marks had been miscalculated, said inspector Mohlaka Mashiyane.

The protesters were demanding that those pupils be promoted to Grade 12.

"When they found the gates locked at Makgofe High School they started banging on the gates, instructing the students to abandon classes and join in their protests," said Mashiyane.

They began throwing stones at cars parked in the school grounds and dispersed after seeing police cars approaching.

Mashiyane said: "No pupils have been arrested, but we have opened a case of malicious damage to property as four vehicles were damaged."

The department of education in Limpopo said no steps would be taken against the school management as the mistake had been committed by one teacher.

"We are finalising our investigations and we will release a report shortly," said department spokesperson Ndo Mangala.